In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with José Rosario—therapist, human rights speaker, and founder of The Phoenix Empowered—for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about radical healing, identity, and the systems that shape our mental health. Born to young Puerto Rican parents and living with cerebral palsy, José's story is one of defiance, resilience, and community. From being told as a child that he would "never accomplish anything" to becoming a leading voice in intersectional mental health, José shares his deeply personal journey of finding belonging and purpose through advocacy.

Together, Sindee and José explore what it really means to "heal versus cope," how therapists can move beyond symptom reduction toward social change, and why difference is not a deficit but a source of strength. José also opens up about the founding of The Phoenix Empowered, his work amplifying the voices of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities, and the revival of his podcast The Phoenix Unbound, a bold, unfiltered space for mental health dialogue.

It's a conversation about belonging, community, and what becomes possible when we refuse to shrink ourselves to fit into boxes that were never made for us.

00:00 – Welcome and Introduction

00:49 – Meet José Rosario: Therapist, advocate, and scholar

03:14 – Growing up with difference and early experiences of stigma

07:45 – Defying limitations and learning to embrace identity

11:31 – Founding The Phoenix Empowered and redefining "rising from the ashes"

13:59 – Healing vs. coping: A call to change systems, not just symptoms

18:32 – Understanding radical healing and its five pillars

26:00 – Authenticity, belonging, and finding safety in community

33:47 – Storytelling as activism and the power of shared narratives

35:21 – The Phoenix Unbound: Creating unfiltered spaces for connection

43:02 – Disability, advocacy, and moving beyond the deficit model

47:37 – Advice for therapists: Playing, healing, and honoring humanity

50:23 – How to connect and join The Phoenix Empowered community

Check out Berries:

https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month

Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com

Connect with José Rosario:

Website: https://www.thephoenixempowered.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thephoenixempowered/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thephoenixempowered/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-phoenix-empowered/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-rosario-b71817bb/

Jose Rosario's Tedx Talk ""I hear you": The Psychology of Our Differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9f7_W6j9oE

Connect with Sindee Gozansky:

Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/

Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: facebook.com/groups/478651669638167

Instagram: instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/

YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Email Sindee: [email protected]